This week in the Twin Cities: pottery tour, Train Day and Llama Magic

Friday's National Train Day will be celebrated at downtown St. Paul's Union Depot. (Pioneer Press: Jean Pieri)

Friday, May 9

Theater: Dirt Sticks

Opens Friday: Ten Thousand Things' playwright-in-residence Kira Obolensky pens one of her signature toothsome tales: After Rose Wand falls to her death, her bones go missing. Two decades later, a mysterious peddler has come to town selling glimpses of the past and stirring up thoughts about second chances. But before they can imagine a new future, Rose's son Henry Wand, Mother Spindle, and the orphan Miss Laurel have to face the stories -- told and untold -- that hold them captive. Through June 1; Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave, Mpls.; $25; tenthousandthings.org or 800-838-3006.

-- Dominic P. Papatola

Theater: Crimes of the Heart

Opens Friday: The three Magrath sisters gather in their Mississippi hometown to await news of their hospitalized grandfather, which kicks off an eventful day for a family that put the "fun" in "dysfunctional" Maggie Chestovich , Georgia Cohen and Ashley Rose Montondo portray the sisters in Beth Henley's Pulitzer Prize-winner, directed by Marcela Lorca. Through June 15, Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Mpls.; $71-$24; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.

-- Dominic P. Papatola

Dance: Zenon Dance Company

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Opens Friday: Zenon is known for bringing the works of buzz artist choreographers to Twin Cities audiences. And that's what it will do during its spring season, premiering a new piece by Guggenheim fellow Netta Yerushalmy and reviving a 2011 work by MacArthur "genius grant" recipient Kyle Abraham. But the choreographers aren't all imported from out of state: A new piece by Mankato-based Daniel Stark will debut, and the company will revive former Twin Citian Danny Buraczeski's piece, "Ezekiel's Wheel." Through May 18; Cowles Center, 528 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.; $34; 612-206-3600 or thecowlescenter.org.

-- Rob Hubbard

Art: St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour and Sale

Friday-Sunday: Buy Mom a special bowl or a pie plate or a vase. Minnesota potters mark their 22nd anniversary of this self-guided pottery sale and studio tour through the upper St. Croix River Valley. Drive through the spring countryside and visit all seven ceramic studios, which range from Linda Christianson's log home nestled in a clearing in the woods to Guillermo Cuellar's hilltop aerie overlooking the river. Each potter is hosting a handful of local and national guest potters, so there will be dozens of artisans to meet and hundreds of pots to admire. Visit the website for a map and details; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday; minnesotapotters.com.

-- Maja Beckstrom

Blues: Kelley Hunt

Friday-Saturday: Kansas City-based singer-songwriter-pianist Kelley Hunt is helping to carry on the rich blues tradition of her hometown. She also combines rock, R&B, gospel and jazz elements into a well-developed, performing style. At the Dakota, Hunt will probably preview tunes from her first new album in three years, "The Beautiful Bones," due for release on May 20. 7 p.m., Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, 1010 Nicollet Ave., Mpls.; $25; 612-332-1010 or dakotacooks.com.

-- Dan Emerson

Saturday, May 10

World music: Yohannes Tona: Made in Abyssinia

Saturday: Born and raised in Ethiopia, electric bassist Yohannes Tona has been one of the elite instrumentalists in the Twin Cities since moving here several years ago. Along with leading his own band, he's a member of Dr. Mambo's Combo, the Nachito Herrera Trio and Sounds of Blackness, among other groups. At Studio Z, Tona will premier his new Made in Abyssinia project, which is a bass and drum duo playing music based on traditional African grooves and melodies. His other project is the release of "13," his second album featuring his band. Before the concert, Tona will present a workshop on African music at 6 p.m. Concert at 7 p.m., Studio Z (Northwestern Building) 275 E. Fourth St., St. Paul; $10; studiozstpaul.com.

-- Dan Emerson

Family: Llama Magic & Fiber Friends

Saturday-Sunday: Washington County Fairgrounds will be full of llamas, alpaca, sheep and rabbits for the 20th annual Llama Magic gathering. While the event is geared to folks who use fleece for spinning, knitting and weaving, it's a fun event for the general public. Watch handlers race their animals through an obstacle course, cheer on your favorite in the leaping llama contest and take a llama for a walk. There will be plenty of animals to pet, fleece contests, knitting and felting demonstrations and artisans selling everything from yarn and craft kits to jewelry, soap and pottery. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Washington County Fairgrounds, 12300 N. 40th St. (intersection of Washington County Road 15 and U.S. Hwy. 5), Lake Elmo; llamamagic.com.

-- Maja Beckstrom

Family: Arbor Day at Maplewood Nature Center

Saturday: Do you know your trees? A naturalist at Maplewood Nature Center will introduce common Minnesota species and lead a stroll around the grounds to point them out. The hour program is followed by drop-in tree crafts and activities for families. 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. walk; 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m. activities; Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 Seventh St. E., Maplewood; 651-249-2170 or maplewoodnaturecenter.com.

-- Maja Beckstrom

Dance: TU Dance

Saturday: St. Paul's finest auditorium plays host to its finest modern dance company, as Uri Sands and Toni Pierce-Sands take their troupe downtown for a night at the Ordway that marks the troupe's 10th anniversary. The two met in Alvin Ailey's company, and this program will feature one of Ailey's works, "Twin Cities," which Sands will dance with guest artist Laurel Keen, formerly of San Francisco's Alonzo King Lines Ballet. Also featured are some of Sands' works from the company's first decade, including "Lady" and "One." But the main event is the premiere of "Hikari," an Ordway-commissioned new work that Sands created with Japanese woodblock artist Hiroki Morinoue. 7:30 p.m.; Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; $53-$23; 651-224-4222 or Ordway.org.

Saturday: The first Amtrak trains roll into the restored Union Depot this week, marking the return of passenger rail service to downtown St. Paul after 43 years. The Empire Builder route runs through the Twin Cities, and as of this week, passengers will no longer board at the nondescript station in St. Paul's Midway neighborhood. Train-themed activities and displays of equipment, including a restored SP1952 Caliente track inspection car, are featured at this event. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Union Depot, 240 Kellogg Blvd. E.; St. Paul; free; uniondepot.org or Amtrak.com.

-- Maja Beckstrom

Pop: The Both

Saturday: In the same spirit as the Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs and Juliana Hatfield/Matthew Caws collaborations -- just with much better results -- singer/songwriters Aimee Mann and Ted Leo have combined their talents to make a record as the Both. The collaboration began in 2012, when Leo was opening for Mann. They started performing together on stage and that blossomed into their self-titled album and the current tour. It's just the boost each artist needed, as their own recent solo albums have gotten a bit dull. Nick Diamonds (of Islands) opens. 8 p.m.; Fine Line Music Cafe, 318 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $20; 612-338-8100 or finelinemusic.com.

-- Ross Raihala

Hip-hop: Tech N9ne

Saturday: Missouri rapper Aaron Dontez Yates picked up his stage name from a semi-automatic handgun, although the story goes it was actually bestowed upon him due to his fast rhyming. In 1999, just as his underground career was taking off, he formed his own label, Strange Music, and has become one of the country's most successful indie rappers. (Forbes reported that he earned $7.5 million last year, making him the genre's 18th biggest moneymaker.) He's prolific in the studio, too, as he released his 14th full-length album, "Strangeulation," last week. His lablemate Krizz Kaliko joins him for this local tour stop alongside newcomers Freedie Gibbs, Jarren Benton and Psych Ward Druggies. 7 p.m.; Myth, 3090 Southlawn Drive, Maplewood; $45-$35 (all ages); 651-779-6984 or mythlive.com.

-- Ross Raihala

Dance: St. Paul Ballet Showcase

Saturday-Sunday: St. Paul Ballet presents its spring showcase, featuring performances by young students interspersed with repertoire danced by members of the company, including excerpts from "Sleeping Beauty." 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 3 and 6 p.m. Sunday; Macalester College Theater, 1600 Grand Ave., St. Paul; $15-$10; 651-690-1588 or spcballet.org.

-- Maja Beckstrom

Sunday, May 11

Classical: Richard Goode

Sunday: The Frederic Chopin Society concludes its season with a sold-out recital by one of America's most respected veteran pianists. Goode is known as a master Beethoven interpreter, which makes this concert all the more compelling, as he'll perform Beethoven's last three piano sonatas (Nos. 30, 31 and 32), as well as his 11 Bagatelles, Op. 119. If you can't snare a ticket, he will return for a Schubert Club recital at the Ordway in November. 3 p.m.; Mairs Concert Hall, Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center, 130 Macalester St., St. Paul; $25-$13; 612-822-0123 or chopinsocietymn.org.

-- Rob Hubbard

Family: Chris McKhool's Fiddle Fire/ Sultans of String

Sunday: This free (for kids) Friends & Family concert, sponsored by Friends of the Minnesota Orchestra, will feature fiddler and vocalist Chris McKhool, playing Gypsy jazz, world beat, rumba-flamenco, blues, boogie-woogie and more. McKhool's band also includes guitarist Kevin Laliberte, bassist Drew Birston and percussionist Alberto Suarez. Each Friends & Family concert date features Sound Discovery Stations in the lobby, where kids can learn more about the instruments used on stage, and try them out. (The Sultans of String will also perform at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis at 7 p.m. Sunday night.) 2 p.m., Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.; $5 adults, kids free; minnesotaorchestra.com.

-- Dan Emerson

Classical music: St. Paul Civic Symphony Mother's Day Concert

Sunday: Anthony Ross, longtime cellist with the Minnesota Orchestra, is the soloist at the free Mother's Day concert, "Matters of Life and Death," performed by the St. Paul Civic Symphony. Ross will play Haydn's Cello Concerto in C with the amateur community orchestra and a Kaddish, or Jewish mourner's prayer, by 20th century composer David Diamond for cello and orchestra. The program also includes Panufnik's "Tragic Overture" and R. Strauss', "Death and Transfiguration." 1 p.m.; Landmark Center, 75 W. Fifth St., St. Paul; free; landmarkcenter.org or spcsmusic.org.

-- Maja Beckstrom

Rock: Slint

Sunday: Formed in Kentucky in the mid-'80s, Slint released two mostly ignored albums before breaking up in 1991. But the band's sophomore disc, "Spiderland," earned a cult following and was retroactively given credit for kick-starting the post-rock genre and influencing bands like Mogwai, Godspeed You Black Emperor and Explosions in the Sky. While Slint's band members went on to play in Tortoise, the Breeders and Palace, they reunited in 2005 and have continued to occasionally tour. This local gig follows news that a remastered "Spiderland," coupled with a DVD documentary about the group, will hit stores in June. (A limited-edition version of the album sold out almost immediately after it was released earlier this year.) 8 p.m.; Mill City Nights, 111 Fifth St. N., Mpls.; $28-$25; 888-929-7849 or millcitynights.com.

-- Ross Raihala

Pop: Eric Hutchinson

Sunday: Los Angeles singer/songwriter Eric Hutchinson has long claimed the Twin Cities as one of his biggest markets, thanks to early support from Cities 97 (the station has placed him on its annual "Sampler" three times) and the late promoter Sue McLean (he played a local memorial benefit for her last fall). He's back in town to promote "Pure Fiction," his first album back as an indie act after recording a pair of records for Warner Bros. Texas alt-rock band Saints of Valory ("Neon Eyes") opens this sold-out club gig. 8 p.m.; Varsity Theater, 1308 Fourth St. S.E., Mpls.; sold out; 612-604-0222 or varsitytheater.org.

-- Ross Raihala

Folk: Nickel Creek

Sunday: California trio Nickel Creek helped bring bluegrass into the 21st century with a series of acclaimed albums, including the Grammy-winning "This Side." In 2006, at the height of their fame, Nickel Creek announced they were going on a hiatus. Chris Thile went on to make four records with the Punch Brothers and collaborate with Yo-Yo Ma and Edgar Meyer, while the Watkins siblings each made solo albums, with Sara Watkins also guest hosting "A Prairie Home Companion." Their reunion tour follows the release of "A Dotted Line," an album that seems to pick up right up where the band left off eight years ago. 7:30 p.m.; State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.; $49.50; 800-982-2787 or hennepintheatretrust.org.

-- Ross Raihala

Tuesday, May 13

Theater: Bring it On: The Musical

Tuesday-May 18: "Bring It On: The Musical" is inspired by the comedy teen movie of the same name and features the big number dances and gymnastics feats you'd expect from a storyline that centers on rival high school cheerleading squads. When a suburban cheerleading captain ends up via redistricting at an inner-city school, she convinces the dance crew to create a cheerleading team to compete against her old school and the girl who usurped her spot. The ending suggests that cross-cultural friendship is more valuable than a win at nationals. The touring Broadway show is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; also 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; $105-$33; 651-224-4222 or ordway.org.

-- Maja Beckstrom

Jazz: Jane Monheit

Tuesday: New York native Jane Monheit celebrates one of Minnesota's own during this show devoted to Judy Garland's jazzier side. The 36-year-old Monheit has said the idea of the set is to "get away from the drama and celebrate what we all loved about Judy, the immense joy she brought through song and her innate understanding of jazz. She did so much more than break hearts -- she put them together again -- and that's what we're going to be about with this show." In addition to two evening performances, Monheit will be on hand for a three-course meal at noon that's open to a limited number of guests (contact the club for details). 7 and 9 p.m.; Dakota Jazz Club, 1010 Nicollet Ave., Mpls.; $40-$30; 612-332-1010 or dakotacooks.com.

-- Ross Raihala

Local music: Motion City Soundtrack

Tuesday-Wednesday: Local pop-punk favorites Motion city Soundtrack are celebrating the 12-year anniversary of their debut album "I Am the Movie" with a new documentary drawn from video footage and photographs shot during the making of the record. The DVD even comes packaged in the same floppy disk-style packaging as the original "I Am the Movie." For Twin Cities fans, MCS is performing their debut acoustically, in its entirety, in the intimate McNally Smith Auditorium in downtown St. Paul. The first of the two-night stand is sold out. 6 p.m.; McNally Smith Recital Hall, 19 E. Exchange St., St. Paul; 800-594-9500 or mcnallysmith.edu.

-- Ross Raihala

Wednesday, May 14

Rock: Manchester Orchestra

Wednesday: After a trio of emotionally charged records, Atlanta alt-rock group Manchester Orchestra lets their guitars do the talking in their new one, "Cope." With a beefy, electric growl front and center, the record has earned comparisons with everybody from Tool to Built to Spill. It also earned the band their best-ever Billboard week when it entered the charts at No. 13. The band recorded it in a new studio they built in the basement of guitarist/vocalist Andy Hull's childhood home. Balance and Composure and Kevin Devine open. 5:30 p.m.; Skyway Theatre, 711 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; $28.50-$17.50; 612-333-6100 or skywaytheatre.com.

-- Ross Raihala

Thursday, May 15

Rock: Cage the Elephant

Thursday: When Kentucky's Cage the Elephant got signed in 2007, the label moved them to England in order to build some buzz, mimicking similar get-big-in-London-first tactics that helped establish the Strokes and Kings of Leon. And, what do you know, it worked yet again as Cage the Elephant have overcome a truly awful name and scored a series of alt-rock radio hits, including "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked," "Back Against the Wall," "Shake Me Down" and "Come a Little Closer." British dance punks Foals and Tennessee rockers J. Roddy Walston and the Business are also on the bill. 6:30 p.m.; Myth, 3090 Southlawn Drive, Maplewood; $35 (all ages); 651-779-6984 or mythlive.com.

-- Ross Raihala

Classical: Minnesota Orchestra

Thursday-May 17: In some ways, it feels as if the Minnesota Orchestra's concertmaster, Erin Keefe, just got here. But we may not have her for long, as she's one of three finalists for the same position with the New York Philharmonic. So you should enjoy her talents while you can, and these concerts offer a wonderful opportunity, as she's soloist for Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. And, for those who love the orchestral interludes in Richard Wagner's operas but don't care for the singing, conductor Mark Wigglesworth has just the thing: A one-hour orchestral distillation of Richard Wagner's multi-night "Ring" Cycle. 11 a.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. May 16 and 17; Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.; $84-$22; 612-371-5656 or minnesotaorchestra.org.

-- Rob Hubbard

Classical: St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

Thursday-May 18: Last November marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of British composer Benjamin Britten, and the SPCO pays tribute to him with a three-week mini-Britten fest led by violinist, conductor and SPCO artistic partner Thomas Zehetmair. It starts with a performance of Britten's work for viola and strings, "Lachrymae," with the SPCO's principal violist, Maiya Papach, as soloist. The opening program also features an overture and symphony (No. 1) by Felix Mendelssohn and Dmitri Shostakovich's Prelude and Scherzo. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Temple Israel, 2324 Emerson Ave. S., Mpls.; 8 p.m. May 17, St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 900 Summit Ave., St. Paul; 2 p.m. May 18, Benson Great Hall, 3900 Bethel Drive, Arden Hills; $42-$5; 651-291-1144 or thespco.org.

-- Rob Hubbard

Dance: Ragamala Dance

Thursday-May 18: The focus of Twin Cities company Ragamala has always been the traditional Bharatanatyam dance style of India. But, in recent years, Ragamala is starting to forge fascinating hybrids with other forms. For these presentations at the Walker, the company is collaborating with a collection of jazz musicians specializing in Indian-flavored sounds, led by saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa. 8 p.m. Thursday-May 17, 2 p.m. May 18; McGuire Theater, Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.; $30-$22; 612-375-7600 or walkerart.org/tickets.